The Development of the European Nations, 1870-1914 (5th ed.)

"The Development of the European Nations, 1870-1914" by J. Holland Rose is a study of Europe during a time of big changes before World War I. It looks at how strong feelings of national pride and the idea of government by the people changed the way countries acted and sometimes led to fights. The book starts by explaining the complicated political situation after the Napoleonic Wars. It shows how countries became more unified, especially with leaders like Bismarck, but also how this set the scene for conflicts that would change Europe forever. It's like a detailed explanation of how Europe ended up the way it did in the years leading up to a major war.